Container support bracket



Oct. 11, 1966 B. DENARO CONTAINER SUPPORT BRACKET Filed. Oct. 28, 1964 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. BEN/W DENHRO 5v HTTORNEYS' Cdz'l on Sellfe & Crag United States Patent 3,278,148 CONTAINER SUPPURT BRACKET Benny Denaro, 29765 Old liiedford, Farmington, Mich. Filed Oct. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 407,074 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-210) The present invention relates in general to paint can support brackets mountable upon ladders and more particularly to simplified one-piece support brackets, and a method of making same, which are mountable upon a ladder so as to be in engagement with a rail and any selected rung of the ladder and by which a paint or like can of standard commercial construction may be securely held essentially rigid relative to the ladder against inadvertent separation of the paint can from the bracket, e.g., while painting or while moving the ladder.

It is common practice, particularly among amateur house and like painters, for the painter to endeavor to balance himself on a step ladder While holding a paint brush in one hand and a paint can in the other, during the course of painting an elevated area on the exterior or interior of a house or the like. Obvious shortcomings make this practice not only uncomfortable but extremely dangerous to both the painter and to bypassers or observers.

The painter is required to balance himself on the lad der by grasping the ladder with the same hand in which the pain-t can, usually of gallon capacity, is held. Such a grasp is easily lost during painting, causing the painter to fall or drop the paint can which often leads to property damage and personal injury to the painter and/or observer. Also, by this procedure, the painter is required to ascend and descend the ladder with the brush and bucket in hand each time it is relocated thereby increasing the already high safety risk and the likelihood of paint spillage incident to such a poor practice.

In View of the foregoing disadvantages and because of the inherent inconvenience and painter fatigue consequential of holding both a brush and can while painting upon the ladder, some efforts have been made in the past toward providing a container support bracket designed to be mounted upon a step ladder or the like and to carry a container, such as a standard paint can, independent of the painter.

Such container brackets have proved to be commercially unacceptable, primarily, because (1) the prior art brackets which afforded sufiicient stability between the ladder and the bracket and between the bracket and the container to thereby essentially alleviate risk of human danger and paint spillage were unduly complex and, hence, too costly to profitably manufacture, requiring multiple parts formed of separate pieces (for example, see United States Patents 2,735,641 and 2,950,080); and, (2) the prior art brackets which were of sufficient simplicity to be profitably manufacturable lacked the stability between the ladder and the bracket and between the bracket and the container necessary to adequately avoid risk of human danger and paint spillage (for example, see United States Patents 2,912,204 and 3,052,442).

The present invention substantially overcomes the above-identified deficiencies of the prior art by providing a one-piece container support bracket of simplified, durable'construction which may be fabricated from a single sheet metal blank and which, when mounted upon a rail and rung of a ladder, essentially unitarily secures the bracket and the container against lateral and longitudinal inadvertent displacement in a properly oriented, usable position, even while moving the ladder from place to place. Yet, the container and bracket may be unitarily repositioned from one ladder rung to another when desired solely by use of the container handle, e.g., the wire ice handle of a standard commercial gallon paint can. The novel integral bracket of this invention avoids any need for a container-encircling band to provide requisite stability but rather employs structure including a central segment, interposed between the rail and the container, from which three integral, independent cantilevered extensions project (1) to engage the desired rung and adjacent rail of the ladder, (2) to engage the lip of the elevated opening to the container and, (3) to supportingly engage the bottom of the container, respectively.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel container support bracket characterized by its durability, its simplicity of manufacture and its stability when installed, and having one or more of the following features:

(1) Selectively mountable upon any desired rung of a ladder;

(2) Of simiplified one-piece construction allowing for economical manufacture without use of separate parts formed from separate pieces;

(3) Which accommodates stable and safe securing of the bracket upon the ladder and the container upon the bracket in the desired painting position, so as to (a) prevent inadvertent lateral and longitudinal separation of the bracket from the ladder and of the paint can from the bracket, even during movement of the ladder, with the bracket and paint can mounted thereon, from one working position to another, (b) accommodate ready unitary rung-torung repositioning of the bracket and paint can combination simply by grasping and manipulation of the container handle, and (3) accommodate free use of at least one hand to grasp the ladder during use of the bracket, as, for example, when painting as well as when ascending or descending the ladder to thereby provide improved safety characteristics.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the appended claim, as the ensuing detailed description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: i

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a onepieoe blank from which a container support bracket may be fabricated;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View illustrating the blank of FIGURE 1, following fabrication, in its ladder mounted, container supporting orientation;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a one-piece blank from which a container support bracket of this invention will be fabricated;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view illustrating the blank of FIGURE 3, following fabrication, in its installed position upon a ladder and carrying a standard commercial paint can;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention wherein a conventional paint pan, adapted for use with paint rollers, is illustrated in its installed orientation upon another support bracket of this invention, which in turn is mounted upon the rung and rail of a ladder.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout, FIG- URE 1 illustrates a single sheet metal blank 10 which may be utilized to fabricate the container support bracket of the present invention. Sheet metal blank 10 is preferably given the illustrated pattern by stamping. When appropriately bent along the dotted lines of FIGURE 1, blank 10 will be fabricated into a container support bracket 30 having the configuration illustrated in FIGURE 2, so as 1) to permit being hooked over the top of a selected rung 12 of a ladder 14, (2) to circumscribe three sides of rail 16 of the ladder, (3) to engage lip 18 of elevated opening 20 of a standard commercial gallon paint can 22 having a wire handle 24, and (4) to support the bottom of paint can 22.

Fabrication of blank 10 of FIGURE 1 into the configuration of container support bracket of FIGURE 2 may be economically achieved by bending upper projection or extension 32 (FIGURE 1) through essentially 180 generally along dotted lines 34 and 36 to thereby form downwardly extending hook 38 (FIGURE 2). Hook 38 is integrally cantilevered from central segment 40 and is adapted to engage over lip 18 of paint can 22.

By bending lower extension 42 (FIGURE 1) of flat, planar central segment 40 along dotted line 44 through about 90 until extension 42 lies in a plane essentially perpendicular to the plane containing central segment 40, cantilevered platform support 54 (FIGURE 2) is provided to support the bottom of paint can 22. By bending bifurcated arms 46 and 48 of lower extension 42 along dotted lines 50 and 52 (FIGURE 1), vertical tabs 60 and 62 are provided to spacedly engage the sides of paint can 22 adjacent the bottom, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, to thereby provide structure which not only longitudinally supports the weight of can 22 and its contents but which also restrains lateral inadvertent displacement of paint can 22 relative to bracket 30.

Similarly, rail receiving recess 64 is provided in bracket 30 by bending blank 10 along dotted lines 66, 68 and 70 (FIGURE 1) into the configuration illustrated by walls 71, 73 and 75 in FIGURE 2. By bending projection 72 generally along dotted lines 74 and 76 (FIGURE 1) substantially through 180, hook 78 (FIGURE 2) is thereby formed. Hook 78 provides recess 80 for receiving any selected rung of ladder 14. For convenience, the structure for rail receiving recess 64 and rung receiv ing recess 80 is designated rail and rung attachment structure 82.

Hence, it is seen from the foregoing detailed description that the bracket embodiment of FIGURE 2 provides three separate integral cantilevered extensions, i.e., hook 38, bottom container support platform 54 and rail and rung attachment 82, all projecting from central segment 40, being conveniently fabricated from single blank 10.

To remove bracket 30 and paint can 22 from rung 12 to rung 84, for example, the painter need only grasp and lift wire paint can handle 24 to thereby unitarily elevate paint can 22 and bracket 30 in an essentially vertical direction, and to thereafter position hook 78 over top of rung 84 with recess 64 circumscribing three sides of rail 16 adjacent rung 84. Unitary repositioning of paint can 22 and bracket 30 is largely accommodated by reason of the engagement between hook 38 of bracket 30 and lip 18 of paint can 22. Since lip 18 also is situated within the recess provided by hook 38 during painting operation, inadvertent detachment of paint can 22 from bracket 30 is prohibited to thereby provide excellent stability characteristics.

Even when considering that there will be slight variations in the angle of inclination of ladder 14 with respect to any vertical wall against which it is placed, the orientation of platform 54 and, accordingly, paint can 22 will be essentially horizontal.

While bracket 30 of FIGURE 2 is illustrated as mounted upon righthand rail 16, it may also be manufactured opposite hand for mounting upon left rail 83 of the ladder. Furthermore, while the preferred material to be utilized for fabrication of the container support bracket of this invention is sheet metal, it is to be appreciated that certain plastics may be utilized so as to embody the principles of this invention and, hence,

4 are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.

The exact type of ladder upon which bracket 30 is to be mounted may be any conventional ladder, such as a straight ladder, and forms no part of this invention. The cross sectional configuration of the steps of the ladder is similarly not material to the present invention and may be round, fiat or any other shape.

Referring now in greater detail to a second embodiment of the present invention, typified by FIGURES 3 through 5, blank is preferaby formed from commercially available sheet metal, as, for example, by stamping. In a manner analogous to the fabrication of blank 10 into bracket 30, blank 100 may be fabricated into bracket 102 (FIGURE 4) by bending upper extension 104 along dotted lines 106 and 108 (FIGURE 3) to form downwardly extending hook 110, engageable with lip 18 of paint can 22, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Hook 110, therefore, is cantilevered from flat, planar central segment 112 of bracket 102. Bending of blank 100 along dotted lines 114, 116 and 118 (FIGURE 3) provides the bottom support 120 of bracket 102 which generally lies in a plane essentially perpendicular to the plane containing central segment 112 and includes upwardly extending projections 122 and 124 (FIGURES 4 and 5) which, in the installed position, are interposed within annular recess 126 between side wall 128 and bottom 130 of paint can 22. In this way, paint can 22 is restrained against inadverent lateral and longitudinal displacement with respect to bracket 102.

By bending blank 100 along dotted lines 134 and 136 in a manner similar to the fabrication of bracket 30' of FIGURE 2, rail receiving recess 137 is thereby provided which is adapted for contiguous engagement with three sides of rail 16. Recess 140 (FIGURES 3 and 4), formed during the stamping operation, fits over top of rung 12 or any other desired rung, as illustrated in FIGURE 4 to, along with rail receiving recess 137, restrain bracket 102 against inadvertent lateral or longitudinal displacement from the ladder. Paint can 22 and bracket 102 may also be unitarily repositioned from rung to rung by use of wire handle 24.

Referring now in greater detail to the third embodiment of this invention as illustrated in FIGURE 6, bracket 200, preferably fabricated from a single sheet metal blank in a manner analogous to the fabrication of blanks 10 and 100, is illustrated as supporting paint pan 206. The rung and rail engaging portions of bracket 200, as well as the hook for engaging the container lip 201, are illustrated as being substantially identical to the rung and rail engaging portions and the lip engaging hook of bracket 30 of FIGURE 2. In view of this substantial identity, no further detailed description of those component parts is deemed necessary in conjunction with bracket 200 and, accordingly, none is undertaken. With respect to bracket 200, rung and rail engaging extension 82 as well as hook 38, respectively, cantilever from fiat, planar central segment 202.

Integral with and projecting substantially perpendicular from central segment 202 is bottom support platform 204 which is in force transmitting relationship with the essentially horizontal extending portion 203 of the bottom of roller paint pan 206. Platform 204 is preferably bifurcated to provide arms 208 and 212. Arm 208 is engageable for the most part with the horizontal portion 203 of the bottom of paint pan 206 across the entire length of arm 208. Arm 208 terminates in a substantially vertically extending tab 210 provided to restrain paint pan 206 against lateral displacement ifrom bracket 200.

Arm 212, which provides the other half of the bifurcation of platform 204, is twisted through essentially 90 at 214 to provide a generally vertically extending hook 216 within which vertical leg 218 of paint pan 206 is cradled against lateral or horizontal movement with respect to bracket 200. Edge 220 of hook 216 may be contoured to correspond to the slope contour of tapered bottom portion 222 of paint pan 206 to provide improved vertical stability between pan 206 and bracket 2%.

The embodiment of FIGURE 6 is merely illustrative of one way in which the present invention may be embodied for utilization with paint pans adapted for paint roller utilization rather than commercial paint cans normally used in conjunction with paint brushes.

By use of the novel bracket inventive concept of this invention, greater painter convenience is provided and less spillage results, due to the stability characteristics of the invention. The painter is free to wipe paint off the bristles of his brush against the container lip with any desired force without fear of dislodging the paint can from the bracket and without spillage of the paint due to relative movement between the bracket and the paint can.

While the painter need not fear inadvertent dislodging of the paint can from its installed position in the bracket, at the same time, he has free use of at least one hand to ascend and descend the ladder without the need of removing the paint can or the bracket from the ladder. Also, the painter will have a free hand with which to grasp the ladder at all times during painting and, accordingly, will have a greater degree of mobility upon the ladder allowing for coverage of an increased surface area per each ladder position.

In addition to the stability characteristics of the present bracket, the cost of manufacturing a container bracket embodying the concepts of this invention is such as to allow the bracket to be priced sufficiently low so as to be within the purchase power of all potenial consumers.

While the foregoing description of the present invention has been generally confined to container support brackets wherein the container is filled with paint, it is to be appreciated that the present invention is of broader scope, including, for example, container support brackets mountable upon a ladder to support fruit containers, tool containers, or the like.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by 6 the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are therefore to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

In a container bracket formed from a single piece of sheet metal having a recess for engaging a rung of the ladder and a recess for engaging three sides of a rail of the ladder, the improvement comprising integral means for fixing the container to the bracket for essentially unitary coaction to avoid disengagement of the container or spillage of contents within the container including a downwardly extending hook cantilevered at an elevated position from a wall of the bracket forming one side of the second-mentioned recess to stabilize the container against lateral and longitudinal movement relative to the bracket by engagement with the edge of an elevated opening in the container, said hook cantilevered from an elevated position transmitting to the bracket an upward force applied to the container, and at least one arm of resilient material forming a platform cantilevered at a lower position from said wall forming one side of the second-mentioned recess to :further stabilize the container against lateral and longitudinal movement relative to the bracket by engagement with the bottom and side of the container, while engaging said rung and the container and preventing downward, lateral and transverse motion of the container with respect to said rung, said bracket translatable together with the container upwardly with respect to said rung responsive to an upward force being applied to the container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 858,837 7/1907 Travis 31235 1,212,386 1/1917 Norberg 297179 1,862,701 6/1932 Moelter et al. 248211 2,226,228 12/1940 Kunde 2482l1 2,367,256 1/1945 Atkins 248-21O 3,052,442 9/1962 Rankin 248-210 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

I. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

